Jessica Niles, a single mother, has a three-hour commute to get to work.She rents from her ex-husband in a duplex in Port Ludlow, Washington, near Seattle, where they raise their two children, ages 11 and 9, from their side-by-side homes. She said affordable housing was a driving factor for where she decided to live.“There’s nothing for blue-collar workers,” Niles said. “It angers me down to my core.”Limited options for affordable housing create problems for people like Niles, who must choose between grueling commutes or potentially untenable housing costs.Economists say there is a housing shortage, with a shrinking percentage of affordable homes available in recent years, according to an affordability index based on people’s incomes across hundreds of metropolitan areas. Consequently, prices are surging for the scarce supply.One Federal Reserve Bank economist says suburban growth appears to have maxed out for many cities, such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City and Philadelphia, where long commutes can make farther outlying housing options infeasible.Workers' paychecks also can’t hold up.“In no state, metropolitan area, or county can a worker earning the federal minimum wage or prevailing state minimum wage afford a decent two-bedroom rental home at fair market rent by working a standard 40-hour week,” a 2018 National Low Income Housing Coalition report said.While there’s been economic expansion, “home construction remains extremely low by historical benchmarks,” according to research by Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City senior economist Jordan Rappaport.A limited amount of land available for building in desired urban locations remains a problem. While plentiful land in suburbs helped in the past, increased construction in metropolitan areas involves higher project costs. The need to demolish structures, for instance, pushes developers to focus on larger, luxury housing to recoup costs, Rappaport’s report noted.The shortage of affordable housing generates a slew of adverse effects, influencing the well-being of people in all walks of life, from kids’ success at school to senior citizens being able to afford health care costs.Millions of people pay more than half their income on rent and utilities. That can influence how they make other everyday decisions, such as buying food or when to buy a home.For some, it may lead to no home at all. A lack of affordable housing — a factor more pressing than unemployment or low-paying jobs — has been cited as the leading cause of homelessness in many cities.Looking aheadLawmakers across the country are looking for solutions to problems connected with the issue.In February, Oregon’s governor signed a bill to limit rent increases to 7 percent, plus inflation, among other changes. Such measures are rare. Only four states (California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York) and Washington, D.C., have local governments with active rent-control laws, the nonprofit Urban Institute noted in a January report. As of last fall, 32 states bar cities from passing any type of rent-control legislation, the report found.Congressional representatives have sought to bolster funding for federal programs such as low-income tax credits. Advocacy groups have called for affordable housing issues to be tied to Congress’ $2 trillion infrastructure package.President Donald Trump ordered in June the creation of a council to reduce regulatory burdens related to housing development. Rappaport’s research noted that zoning regulations appear to be the main constraint in multifamily construction. One way to address them is to allow for denser settlement, he wrote.For a community set outside the usual reaches of the transit system, one Iowa transportation provider had a temporary solution that is transitioning to a permanent service this fall. The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority added a shuttle service to connect apartment buildings with grocery shopping and jobs, a service catered toward refugees in the community.Meanwhile, in Washington, Niles started her job as a Microsoft contractor last month, despite the three-hour commute that involves a 30-minute ferry ride.But the new salary means she could move closer and reach her goal of owning her own home if the job becomes permanent.

Jessica Niles, a single mother, has a three-hour commute to get to work.

She rents from her ex-husband in a duplex in Port Ludlow, Washington, near Seattle, where they raise their two children, ages 11 and 9, from their side-by-side homes. She said affordable housing was a driving factor for where she decided to live.

Limited options for affordable housing create problems for people like Niles, who must choose between grueling commutes or potentially untenable housing costs.

Economists say there is a housing shortage, with a shrinking percentage of affordable homes available in recent years, according to an affordability index based on people’s incomes across hundreds of metropolitan areas. Consequently, prices are surging for the scarce supply.

One Federal Reserve Bank economist says suburban growth appears to have maxed out for many cities, such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City and Philadelphia, where long commutes can make farther outlying housing options infeasible.

Workers' paychecks also can’t hold up.

“In no state, metropolitan area, or county can a worker earning the federal minimum wage or prevailing state minimum wage afford a decent two-bedroom rental home at fair market rent by working a standard 40-hour week,” a 2018 National Low Income Housing Coalition report said.

While there’s been economic expansion, “home construction remains extremely low by historical benchmarks,” according to research by Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City senior economist Jordan Rappaport.

A limited amount of land available for building in desired urban locations remains a problem. While plentiful land in suburbs helped in the past, increased construction in metropolitan areas involves higher project costs. The need to demolish structures, for instance, pushes developers to focus on larger, luxury housing to recoup costs, Rappaport’s report noted.

The shortage of affordable housing generates a slew of adverse effects, influencing the well-being of people in all walks of life, from kids’ success at school to senior citizens being able to afford health care costs.

Millions of people pay more than half their income on rent and utilities. That can influence how they make other everyday decisions, such as buying food or when to buy a home.

For some, it may lead to no home at all. A lack of affordable housing — a factor more pressing than unemployment or low-paying jobs — has been cited as the leading cause of homelessness in many cities.

Looking ahead

Lawmakers across the country are looking for solutions to problems connected with the issue.

In February, Oregon’s governor signed a bill to limit rent increases to 7 percent, plus inflation, among other changes. Such measures are rare. Only four states (California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York) and Washington, D.C., have local governments with active rent-control laws, the nonprofit Urban Institute noted in a January report. As of last fall, 32 states bar cities from passing any type of rent-control legislation, the report found.

Congressional representatives have sought to bolster funding for federal programs such as low-income tax credits. Advocacy groups have called for affordable housing issues to be tied to Congress’ $2 trillion infrastructure package.

President Donald Trump ordered in June the creation of a council to reduce regulatory burdens related to housing development. Rappaport’s research noted that zoning regulations appear to be the main constraint in multifamily construction. One way to address them is to allow for denser settlement, he wrote.

For a community set outside the usual reaches of the transit system, one Iowa transportation provider had a temporary solution that is transitioning to a permanent service this fall. The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority added a shuttle service to connect apartment buildings with grocery shopping and jobs, a service catered toward refugees in the community.

Meanwhile, in Washington, Niles started her job as a Microsoft contractor last month, despite the three-hour commute that involves a 30-minute ferry ride.

But the new salary means she could move closer and reach her goal of owning her own home if the job becomes permanent.